Austrian Dairy Industry: An Overview

Austria is renowned for its high-quality dairy products, which are integral to the national economy. Leveraging natural resources and advanced farming techniques, the Austrian dairy sector is robust and influential in Europe.

Milk Production

Austria produces approximately 3.8 billion liters of milk annually. The country benefits from a favorable climate and rich pastures, ensuring substantial milk output and maintaining Austria's position as a key player in the European dairy market.

Dairy Cattle

Austria is home to about 540,000 dairy cows, primarily raised on family-owned farms which emphasize high standards of animal welfare and milk quality. The Fleckvieh breed comprises 87% of the herd. In 2021, the average Fleckvieh cow in Austria produced 7,834 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.16% and protein content of 3.44%.

Milk Processing

The annual volume of milk processed in Austria stands at approximately 3.5 billion liters. The country's well-developed processing infrastructure supports a diverse range of dairy products.

Cheese Production

Austria produces around 200,000 tons of cheese each year, with popular varieties such as Bergkäse and Emmental gaining appreciation domestically and internationally.

Milk Powder and Whey Production

Austria's production of milk powder and whey stands at approximately 50,000 tons and 20,000 tons annually, respectively, diversifying its dairy product offerings.

Key Enterprises

The Austrian dairy industry is supported by major enterprises including Berglandmilch, NÖM AG, SalzburgMilch, Ennstal Milch, and Kärntnermilch, which play significant roles in maintaining the sector's strength and innovation.

Major Dairy Farms

Notable dairy farms in Austria include Biohof Achleitner, Pell-Menghof, Bauernhof Maurer, GailtalBauer, and Reitbauerhof, exemplifying the family-owned nature of Austria's dairy farming tradition.

Export and Import of Dairy Products

Austria exports approximately €1.4 billion worth of dairy products annually, with key markets including Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. The country imports dairy products worth about €800 million annually, primarily from other EU nations.

Recent Developments

Recent developments in Austria's dairy market include Lactalis's plans to acquire BMI dairy assets, and Berglandmilch pioneering aluminum-free aseptic carton packaging. Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health expanded its Engerwitzdorf facility, while Burger King Austria introduced Oatly's Baristamatic oat milk. SalzburgMilch adopted the SIG DomeMini packaging solution. Notably, 52% of cows are now on farms with 30-100 cows.

Recognition

Austrian dairy producer Schärdinger received several awards at the World Championship Cheese Contest 2026. SalzburgMilch, Austria's third-largest dairy company, processed 344 million kg of milk in 2025, including over 203 million kg of specialty milk varieties. Berglandmilch is expanding its production capabilities at the Aschbach facility, one of eight production facilities across five Austrian federal states.

Milk Prices and Market Outlook

Milk prices have increased in Austria, with prices rising to 45.50 euro cents per kilogram. The milk and creamers market is anticipated to grow steadily through 2035, expanding in value by about 2–4% annually, while overall volumes remain broadly unchanged. Austria's dairy market is poised for growth, supported by a strong processing base and persistent domestic demand, with production exceeding domestic fluid-milk needs.

Additional Information

Austria recorded one of the largest reductions in EU cattle slaughter due to changes in livestock retention and fodder scarcity. Cheese exports to Austria increased by 300 tonnes, with significant increases in exports to EU markets. Austria uses similar terminology for kefir as Germany, with the product Activia sold as 'kefir mild'. Type 1 of the Shamonda virus has been reported in Austria, with detections in dairy cattle and horses across Western Europe. The Austrian cooking-class startup 7hauben acquired the German digital culinary school Vegan Masterclass. The Hughes family rebuilt their dairy enterprise by importing 88 Fleckvieh cattle from Austria after losing their herd to bovine tuberculosis. Austria had the largest organic share in milk collections, with organic production accounting for 16.5% of milk collected.